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 Posted - February 28 2009 : 10:28:22 PM
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Hi everyone.
Cool site! Like most of you my first experience with model trains was with a Tyco set in the mid 1970's. I remember it well. I live in Canada and Sears had a Tyco Via rail freight train (yes, a VIA freight train!) set in their catalogue. It was available only at Sears. I asked for it for Christmas and spent every day leading up to Dec 25th staring at it in the dog eared catalogue! Thankfully Santa came through. I remember quite clearly a local marine shop for some reason sold Tyco trains. They had a 4x8 layout full of Tyco trains and accessories. My dad and I would go and usually my dad would buy me something. The first purchase was Tyco's "Layout Expander System". Dad put a 4x8 sheet of homasote on plywood and we expanded the simple oval that came with the Via set into model railroad euphoria! Sure, it wasn't fancy. The scenery was dyed sawdust with some trees and buldings. As I got older my techniques improved. Probably my greatest "Tyco moment" was when my dad bought me the GG1 in Amtrak livery with two lighted passenger cars. "Don't tell mom" was his words to me. I think dad enjoyed the trains as much as me and I can remember being in bed and hearing my dad in the basement running them. I never told him I could hear him. Sadly both my parents and the trains are gone (Cancer took my parents, wanting a car at 16 forced me to sell the trains).
After a 25 year absence from the hobby, I have decided to get back into it. This time I have Proto locos and DCC power and have begun to build a modest layout. I stumbled across this site as well as the Tyco Trains resource site and I find myself on these two sites just as often as the "more prototypical" sites. There's something about these Tyco trains that set them apart from the other RTR brands of that era. I found the powertorque motors took a lot of my abuse (that GG1 would see LOTS of full throttle runs!). The only problems I ever had with them was they'd "squawk" after several hours of use. I'd lube them up and they'd be fine. The VIA was the F9A. I also had the GP-20 (Burlington Northern-3rd version) which ran very well. I can safely say I will be buying the locos that I had as well as some of the freight cars (and structures) that graced my layout in the 1970s. There is a MIB Amtrak GG1 on Ebay right now but the seller will not sell to Canadians!
Thanks to those who started this site. I find it truly enjoyable taking a trip down memory lane! Sorry for the long intro!
Todd
Edited by - TycoTodd on February 28 2009 10:28:58 PM
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 Posted - February 28 2009 : 10:30:55 PM
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| Welcome to the forum...
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 10:47:21 PM
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I always love hearing everyone's story about how they got into Tyco, or rather, why they started buying it again.
Welcome to the forum, feel free to go nuts...
    
- Matt -
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lexlie
Little Six
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 10:50:13 PM
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Welcome to the forum Todd
great story
sorry for your parents
we're like a worldwide family here...
did you ask in a message to the seller on e-bay
sometimes they change their minds, bought from a couple of guys who did.....
PAT
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 11:06:42 PM
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| Welcome , great story please feel free to share pics of those soon to be gotten stuff. adam
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 11:32:04 PM
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Thanks guys. I did ask the seller of the GG1 if he'd consider shipping to Canada. Got a terse reply: "U.S Only!"
No worries. There will be others.
Todd
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 11:38:14 PM
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Great Story. Loved it. Welcome aboard. Saddened by your statement of both parents gone . Feel free to ask questions. You will find this site the friendliest . This is a great group of diverse people from all over.
P.S-- Good Stories are never too long
Edited by - Brianstyco on February 28 2009 11:46:05 PM
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 11:43:51 PM
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| Welcome to the forum Todd.. I never sold my Tyco trains & slot cars , but they took the back seat when I got my drivers license.. Like so many of us I never forgot the fun I had with them & started collecting all over again, much bigger & better! I have photos posted on several sections of the train forum.. Take a peek at them if you wish! Enjoy! Walt
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Posted - February 28 2009 : 11:52:44 PM
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It's amazing after surfing this site the memories that came flooding back. My favorite Tyco accessory was the working railway crossing with the flashing lights and wind up bell! Looked great in the dark!
A friend of mine had the Chatanooga Choo Choo. I loved that loco with the working smoke. His was an early version that had the small pilot wheels (I think that's what they are called) in the front. I noticed later versions never had it. He had the infamous Maxwell House billboard whistle and the chug chug Baby Ruth box car with that "hockey puck" wheel full of "stones". It actually sounded pretty good.
Todd
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Posted - March 01 2009 : 12:42:49 AM
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Hey Todd:
Where in canada are you? I'm in a Toronto suburb on the eatern edge.
-Gareth
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Posted - March 01 2009 : 06:32:09 AM
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hi tycotodd,welcome.enjoy and ask as many questions as you like,jump in on postings,there is no snobbery here,rivet counters are on par not superior like on some sites,what i like most is that no one keeps secrets as regards the hobby if you need help with parts or repairs,i am positive you will get it good luck ken
hi gareth we all make mistakes but i like your one
(i live in the eatern edge) was someone hungry ken
Edited by - catfordken on March 01 2009 06:37:15 AM
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Posted - March 01 2009 : 11:02:51 AM
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Hey Gareth,
I'm in Ingersoll Ont about 90 minutes from you. Are you going to the big NMRA convention in Woodstock this April? There's also a large train show in Woodstock the same weekend. New members can join the NMRA for 9 bucks. That's what I'm going to do so that I can go! There will be layout tours as well as a tour of the small branch line in nearby Mount Elgin. Apparently if you sign up early you can have a go at the controls of one of their locos! My wife just called me a geek. Oh well..
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